Chemical apparatus



May 22, 1923.

E. E. FOGLER CI/{EMICAL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18

27 FDELEE.,

Patented May 22, 1923. I

' f- E srA'rs l BEN BAKER FOGLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOGENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CHEMICAL APPARATUS.

Application led September 18, 1920. Serial lo. 411,216.

To allwlwm it concern: i

Be it known that I, BEN BAKER F OGLER, a

citizen of' the lUnited States, residing at4 Cleveland, A,county ofCuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chemical Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.`

My invention relates to chemical apparatus and more particularly toapparatus to be used for precipitating operations.

My obJect is to producea precipitation kettle which may be evenly heatedand readwhich is disclosed in the application of F.

M. Dorsey, Serial No. 411,166, filed Septem- -ber 18, 1920. In thecontinuous `process a solution containing' a soluble compound oftungsten is run into the kettle simultaneously with the precipitatingsolution and the precipitate and mother liquor are drawn off so as tomaintain a fairly constant level of solution in the kettle.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation ofprecipitation apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top planview of the same; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, ofthe levelgauges.

Referring now to the drawing, the base 10 supports'a container 11 whichis covered on the outside with magnesia bricks 12 or other heatretaining material. A* steam coil 13 inside and near the bottom of thecontainer 11 serves to heat the liquid V14 in the container 11 andsurrounding the stoneware vso precipitation kettle 15 which is receivedin- `side the container, the flange 16 ofthe kettle being supported onthe flange 17 at the top of the container. For the liquid 14, I preferto use some material from which the contents of the precipitation kettle15 may be recovered should the kettle crack or break and I have selecteda solution of calcium chloride as suitable. The liquid 14 is intro- 19with the valve 20 and pipe 24 serves as an'overflow for the liquid -14.A' thermometer 25 inserted through the side of the container 11 gives anindication of the temperature of the liquid 14 Vwhich may be regulatedby adjusting the valve 26 in the steam supply pipe 27 leadin to theheating coil 13.

The stoneware kett e 15 is closed with a woodenrover 28 through whichpasses the pipe 29 leading to the supply .of the tungsten compoundsolution which, in the Dorsey application previously referred to, issodium tungstate solution with which has been mixed a solution of-sodiumnitrate. A thermometer 30 inserted in the pipe 29 indicates thetemperature of the solution entering the kettle. `A nozzle 31 fastenedto the inner end of the pipe 29 sprays the incoming solution. Theprecipitating solution, in this case hydrochloric acid, is brought fromthe supply and, through the pipe 32 (see Fig.`2),

passes into the kettle 15.

The precipitate formed during the reac tion tends to settle somewhatrapidly and in order to prevent this, I have provided an agitator whichconsists of a pipe 33 extending through the cover 28 nearly to thebottom of the kettle and having on its lower e'nd a nozzle 34. Thepipe'33 is connected to a source of high pressure air controlled by thevalve 35 and to a steam supply controlled by 'the valve 36 so thateither or both may be used. Steam agitation would be desirable shouldthe temperature of the soluthe T-shaped pipe 38 (see Fig, 2) through thecover 28 and, in one end of the-IT, I have sealed an air ejector 39Awhich is connected to a source of high pressure air and con-v trolledbythe valve 40. The other end of' the T is open to the atmosphere.

The precipitate and fluid or mother liquor are withdrawn from theVkettle 15 preferably from near the bottom thereof in order to make surethat a substantially complete reaction has taken place. bThe withdrawalis accomplished preferably by elevating the precipitate and liquor fromthe solution in the kettle 15. Furthermore, it is desirable tion in thekettle 15 as indicated on the ther- .90

mometer?, which is supported through the formed during precipitation, Ihave inserted I upper end thereof.

rl`he air tube 43 is connected to a source of high pressure air andcontrolled by the valve 44. Connected to the tube 42 and near the upperend thereof above the cover 28 is the exit tube 45 which conducts theprecipitate and solution carried'up the tube 42 around the air tube 43to the settling and washing tanks. An air vent 46 inthe exit' tube 45permits the air from the air lift to escape to the atmosphere.

The level gauges 47 and 48 (Fig. 3) are'- inserted through holes in thecork 49 which is heldby the cover 28 and `are used to check the level ofthe solution in the kettle 15. Buttons 50 and 51 are provided on therespective Agauges 47 and 48. The gauge 48 extends further into thekettle 15 than does the gauge 47. rll`he agitation ot' the liopior inthe kettle 15 by the agitator is so great that the surface of the liquoris continually in motion. This motion ot the liquor 'is transmitted .tothe gauge inserted therein and, the holes in the cork 49 being largerthan the smaller diameter of the gauges, the

quiver of the gauge aected may be noted above the cover 28. lf neithergauge 47 nor 48 move, the solution is too low; itv both move, it is toohigh; and, if gauge 48 moves and gauge 47 is still, the level of thesolution is at the desired height.

ln operation, the -solution 14 is preferably heated to about thetemperature desirable for the precipitationreaction'and then the sondium tungstate solution and hydrochloric acid are run into the kettle 15through theirv respective pipes and in proper proportion which may bedetermined from venturi meters inserted in the respective pipes; -lt may'be necessary to use steam agitation to bring vthe solution in thekettle 15 to the-proper temperature which is read on the thermome ter37. When the solutionin the kettle has reached a level between thatindicated by the level ofthe gauges 47 and 48, the valve 44 controllingthe air supply of the air tube 43 is opened and adjusted so that theamount of precipitate and solution drawn o by the air litt issubstantially equal to the amount' of the .incoming solutions. When oncead justed the air lift tends to automatically maintain the level ofD thesolution in thekettle between the limits of the gauges 47 and 48 eventhough the amount of the incoming solutions should be temporarilyincreased or decreased.

While l have shown and described a spe- 4 cilic embodiment andapplication of my invention, lt do not wish to be limited thereto asvarious modications and applications there- 'ot will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art.

lWhat ll claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is z- `1..A chemical precipitation apparatus comprising akettle, conduits leading there into for reagents which will react toproduce al precipitate, a delivery tube extending upwardly trom thelower portion of said kettle and having `an open end aperture disposedabove the bottom of said kettle, and another tube extending through saiddelivery tube into said kettle and having an end aperture smaller indiameter than said delivery tube and located adjacent to the lower endthereof.

2. A chemical 4precipitation apparatus comprising a kettle, and a covertherefor, having extending therethrough conduits for the reagents whichwill react to produce a,

desired precipitate, and a delivery tube extending from the bottomportion of Said kettle upwardly through said cover, another tubeextend-ing into said kettle and having an end aperture smaller indiameter than that oit said delivery tube and located adjacent to thelower end' thereof, and means for supplying air pressure thereto.

ln witness whereof, l have hereunto set Sti my hand this thirteenth dayof September,

'BEN een roeren.

